Maksym Turzanski's Key Ideas from How to Be a Stoic
by Massimo Pigliucci

Unlike modern success (wealth, fame, status), Stoics believe that true happiness comes from virtue:

• Wisdom – Seeking truth and making rational decisions.
• Courage – Facing difficulties with strength.
• Justice – Acting fairly and ethically.
• Temperance – Practicing self-discipline and balance.

Expecting only good things leads to disappointment.

✅ Instead, prepare for difficulties by imagining worst-case scenarios.

✅ This helps you appreciate what you have and stay calm under pressure.

Memento Mori ("Remember you will die") is a powerful Stoic practice to remove fear and increase urgency.

💡 Ask yourself daily:

• “If today were my last day, would I waste time on this?”
• “Am I living in alignment with my values?”

You don’t have to suppress emotions, but you must control how you react to them.

• Don’t let anger dictate your actions.
• Use logic and self-reflection to respond calmly in tough situations.

Massimo Pigliucci’s How to Be a Stoic provides timeless strategies for handling stress, making wise decisions, and living with purpose. Get your copy here and start mastering Stoicism today!

Seneca and Epictetus advised voluntary hardship to build mental toughness.

Try:

✔️ Fasting for a day.

✔️ Taking cold showers.

✔️ Doing difficult tasks without complaints.

You can control your effort, but not the result.

• Give 100%, but detach from expectations.
• Find fulfillment in the process, not just the success.

Seneca advised learning from those who live with wisdom and virtue.

✅ Read the works of great thinkers.

✅ Observe successful, ethical people and apply their lessons.

Epictetus: “People are disturbed not by events, but by their perception of events.”

• Train yourself to see challenges as neutral.
• Ask: “What can I learn from this situation?”

Marcus Aurelius wrote daily reflections in Meditations.

• Each night, write one lesson or self-improvement goal.
• Tracking progress keeps you accountable.

Most stress comes from imaginary problems.

❌ Don’t overthink things that haven’t happened yet.

✅ Focus on taking rational action when needed.

Stoics believed in measured speech—only talk when necessary.

💡 Before speaking, ask:

✔️ Is it true?

✔️ Is it useful?

✔️ Is it kind?

Explore more ideas on personal growth, mindset mastery, and resilience. Visit my Linktree at https://linktr.ee/maxturzan for:

• Access to my LinkedIn profile for actionable insights and strategies.
• Direct links to Books-A-Million, where you can find all the books I summarize.

How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci is a practical guide to using ancient philosophy to handle modern challenges. By practicing emotional control, detachment from outcomes, and daily self-improvement, you can develop unshakable resilience and wisdom.

Are you ready to master Stoic thinking? Get your copy here and start your transformation today! 🏛️🚀